Summary: How did Jesus get people to wash his feet, listen to his every word, provide his food etc? He did it by washing other people's feet first, caring for them and giving them food. We learn that by serving others we become happier because of God's blessings a

28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

INTRODUCTION

According to the oxford dictionary a Couch potato is defined as: ‘a person who takes little or no exercise and watches a lot of television.’ The word was actually invented in 1976 and spread quickly into the English world.

I’ll wager that as soon as I said ‘couch potato’ many of you pictured someone you know whom you consider a couch potato

That image in your mind probably includes several common points

The person you’re picturing probably has a remote in his/her hand

They are probably over weight

I’d guess they have something to drink in one hand and a bag of chips in the other

And no doubt they have a blank stare on their face

I’m not here to advocate the destruction of your TV set or ever doing away with chips and salsa while watching late night TV at 2am

Rather, today I want to take note of a similar problem within the church at large

The problem can be summed up in a new word

‘Pew Potato’

A pew potato is a Christian who makes his way into the church at every available opportunity to sit and watch what’s going on while snacking on his or her religion

Probably all of us have played the part of a pew potato at some point in our lives

And like the couch potato we are disinclined to Christian activity or exertion

For many Christianity is a spectator sport

They come and watch what’s going on and never involve themselves in the working of the kingdom

Let’s face it...service is not usually fun

It’s hard to put ourselves at bay and serve others

Especially when we’re talking about working in the nursery

Or teaching a Sunday school class

Or making tea and coffee

Or opening doors

Or picking up dropped bulletins after service

Or filling communion cups

Or whatever

It is the small mundane things of running a church that people do not want to do. We all want to preach and worship lead but washing coffee cups? Who wants to do that?

One of the great reasons that our church is blessed with a worship leader like Andrew Weighell is that you know he is not just up the front leading worship. He is also down here during the week running cables under the floor, typing up worship charts and doing the small jobs that no-one else likes. That is why the worship with Andrew is so good.

And like the couch potato suffering from ill health, the body of Christ suffers and becomes ill when we allow ourselves to become pew potatoes

And people do this for a number of reasons

1. They don’t feel they have anything to offer

2. The work of the ministry is to be done by professional full time clergy/pastors

3. All the work is currently being done and when a slot opens up, they figure they’ll jump right in

4. The positions of service that are available do not fit my gifts

5. I’m too old

6. I’m too young

7. To offer my services would be prideful

8. The available jobs are not very appealing

9. Etc

10. Etc

We would all be liars if we said some of those things had never crossed our minds.

But the fact is none of those are very good reasons for not getting out of the pew and into a place of ministry

There are some excellent reasons why we should fight the pew potato syndrome and get into a place of service.

I am not just talking about here in church. I am talking about in life as well.

It is amazing how much people were devoted to Jesus. In everyday life, people loved him so much, they were devoted to him. For those of us in the 21st century who are just trying to get ahead in life and make a few friends we can learn a thing or two. In your family life, in your work life and in your social life we can learn from Jesus and how he connected with people.

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

The Bible says that even before you were born, God planned a life of service for you.

The reason why so many people are miserable today, feel empty is because they’ve missed the point of life. The Bible says that long ago God planned that you and I should serve others. As I serve others, my own needs are met and as I give my life away, I find it. You were created for service.

How did Jesus get people to wash his feet, listen to his every word, provide his food etc? He did it by washing other people's feet first, caring for them and giving them food. We learn that by serving others we become happier because of God's blessings a